KARACHI, July 24: Bedfordshire University (BU), that claims to have the largest number of
Asian students in the United Kingdom, has set a target of enrolling over 60
students from Pakistan for its session starting in September.

The
university stated that conditions for admission, accommodation and daily life
facilities are the easiest as compared to other universities in the UK.
Scholarships worth 500 to 1,000 pounds are awarded based on merit and part-time
job opportunities for students are ensured.

The visiting BU delegation
explained all the options to interested students on Monday at a local hotel,
where one-on-one interview and qualification evaluation sessions were conducted.

Dr Faiz Hussain, senior lecturer at the university and business
development manager for South Asia, explained why a student should choose BU for
an education. He said that there is a list of reasons for selecting
BU - quality education, a suitable location, a lower cost of education and
living, luxurious but cheaper accommodation and various Asian communities.

"The University of Bedfordshire is a 'five-star' university for media
education. A similar grade goes to courses like IT, telecommunication and
business education," said Hussain. In his view, the university concentrates
mainly on hands-on vocational education – that is more of a focus on practical
work.

Secondly, education in BU is comparatively cheaper than other
universities of similar categories in the UK. It costs 6,000 to 10,000 pounds
per annum. Graduation courses take three years and an MA takes one year to
complete.

The location of BU's two campuses is another attraction for
students. "It has two highway crossings, three railway stations and an airport
within one kilometer of the main campus," Hussain said. "It only takes 20
minutes to reach Central London from the campus."

"Accommodation is not
only luxurious but relatively cheaper in the student villages. For 150 pounds a
month, a student can enjoy a bedroom and modern communication connections," he
said.

Luton City is a small but rapidly growing business city in the UK.
Students can easily earn four to six pounds per hour in a part-time job, said
Syed Abidi, CEO of Falcon Education and Consultancy Services. "Additionally,
something that our South Asian students enjoy is the presence of a large number
of Asian students in this campus." He said that 4,000 students out of a total of
17,000 enrolled in the university are South Asian. "One would never feel like he
is living abroad in this campus."

About the town that the university is
in, Luton, Hussain said, "it has a number of mosques and madrassas, a huge
Muslim population, halal meat shops and several familiar cultural activities.
This will help a student adjust easily."

During the admission seminar
held at the hotel, about 20 students enrolled themselves after their
qualifications were evaluated by the BU delegation. "It is a rare opportunity
for us. Our qualification and financial status was evaluated on the spot," said
Muhammad Makki, a student who came to the seminar for admission.

He was
looking for a postgraduate course in the field of IT. "After the evaluation, we
came to a conclusion of applying for the masters in networking. I am satisfied,"
he said.

Another participant, Rafiq Ahmed, who had just
completed clinical science and is looking for a postgraduate course said, "I was
advised to apply for a foundation course because my IELTS score was less than
six points, which is the minimum requirement. After the evaluation they gave me
that option and I think I will take it," he said. Daily times